Wilmington NC Real Estate

Hampstead NC New Homes | The Neighborhoods of Avendale | Available Homes

2011-01-14T08:47:00.000-08:00

Hampstead NC New Homes from the 130s | The Neighborhoods of Avendale | Available Homes

New Home Deals in Hampstead NC - Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty Real Estate

2010-12-11T11:08:00.000-08:00

New Home Deals in Hampstead NC - Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty Real Estate
New Homes in Hampstead NC

New brick home with golf views - Hampstead NC

2010-04-09T12:18:00.001-07:00

New brick home with golf views - Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty Real Estate

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Tall ship to return to Wilmington - WECT TV6 - WECT.com - Wilmington, NC news and weather -

2010-04-01T15:17:00.000-07:00

Tall ship to return to Wilmington - -

Open House - Saturday, Feb 27th 12-3pm

2010-02-24T13:04:00.000-08:00

Come view this lovely home on Saturday, Feb. 27th from 12-3pm at 6205 Tree Toad ct.

Nestle among the trees in exclusive Timber Creek, this lovely Cape Cod home set on 1/2 acre corner lot offers an inviting rocking chair front porch, large open foyer, first floor master with walk-in closet, large master bath. Upstairs includes 3 additional bedrooms, a large bonus room and large walk-in attic for storage. The flow of the family room, kitchen and rear porches make this a great home for gathering with friends and family. Enjoy the large screened porch with adjoining deck over-looking the private backyard. Timber Creek is located within 10 min of Wrightsville Beach and 5 min to the Mayfaire shopping area.

More info here

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REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Sellers Should List Homes Early

2010-01-12T19:52:00.000-08:00

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Sellers Should List Homes Early

Great Golf Community in Hampstead NC

2009-10-21T15:27:00.000-07:00

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Economist projects local growth in 2010

2009-10-16T15:02:00.000-07:00

Woody Hall at Economic Outlook Conference. Photo by Woody Hall at UNCW's Economic Forcast 2010. Photo by UNCW/Jamie Moncrief

At the UNCW Economic Outlook Conference, economist Woody Hall forecasted that the growth in southeastern North Carolina will be four percent in 2010, compared to one percent growth in 2009 and 0.75 percent in 2008.

Hall also said that the 9.6 percent unemployment rate is the highest in twenty-five years and that the state as a whole continues to outpace the national rate.

“There is something different with this (recession), than I’ve lived through. That is that the unemployment rate in North Carolina has been higher than the nation,” Hall said.

Hall said that employment in real estate has gone from one in every five jobs to one in every seven, and that home sales are still down.

In a segment about the 2009 economy and 2010 outlook, Tom Simpson, formerly of the Federal Reserve system presented factors for the current recession and what the future holds. Simpson pointed to December 2007 as the beginning of the recession and said that it could have been much worse.

“We could’ve gone down the path of the 1930s,” Simpson said. “But it’s really the Federal Reserve that is responsible for us dodging the bullet.”

Simpson noted that TARP funds given to banks and creating lower interest rates as reasons why the recession hasn’t been any worse.

He also laid out the reasons for the current downturn, including escalating home prices, leveraging and compounding risk and complex securities. Simpson said that he was one of the ones in favor of the securitazation of loans, thinking they would limits risks. “We were wrong," Simpson said simply.

Also, the fairly rapid increase in national unemployment has been surprising as well, as it has doubled since the recession began, he said. “The rise of the unemployment is greater than one would expect,” Simpson said.

Simpson said that signs of life have been found in the commercial banking sector. They are borrowing less in the last three months than they did earlier this year. In commercial real estate, national vacancy rates in the commercial real estate are still high.

Along with keynote speaker Lew Ebert, the president of the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce, the conference featured a panel discussion on local economic industries, with David Swain, of Swain and Associates, Craig Stevens, CEO of Stevens Fine Homes Tracy Meyer, professor of marketing at the Cameron School and Brian McMerty, partner with the Wilmington Group. Each panelist shared about the trends they’re seeing locally.

“I’m bullish on what’s going on in corporate America. Our business has transformed significantly in the past few years,” McMerty said, noting that changing times has led to changing demands such as in the role of a CFO. “The skillsets that companies needed a few years ago are different going forward.”

Swain said that real estate development changed more to larger corporations during the boom times. “We’re seeing things change so dramatically, it’s hard to keep up with it,” he said. Swain said that he sold properties during the richer times a few years ago, just to have a safety net for when the bottom fell out.

“We held back to see what would happen. Well, it all happened last year,” he said.

Swain said that his company’s small size gives them advantage in adjusting to the marketplace and the he has worked harder on developing personal relationships with merchants and large tenants.

“We have the ability to react to circumstances where the big corporations wont’ have a clue."
Wilmington Business Journal

http://www.leebryant.com

Wilmington hits the list of best cities for start-ups

2009-10-16T14:58:00.001-07:00

Greater Wilmington Business Journal

Wilmington ranked no. 14 in best midsize city to launch a start-up business in the November issue of Fortune Small Business magazine. Screen Gems studio, PPD, GE-Hitachi, and the beach were listed as assets to the area. But, the Port City’s entrepreneurial spirit was particularly recognized.

“In Wilmington, if you can’t find a job, you create one,” according to the article, which can be read online at: http://money.cnn.com/smallbusiness/best_places_launch/2009/snapshot/355.html

Small business in Wilmington grew at a 12.8 percent rate between 2004 and 2007, according to the article.

Wilmington 2.0 was mentioned as the city’s new project to foster technology-focused business.

Huntsville, Ala., was listed as the top midsize city to launch a business. And, Billings, Montana was the best small city for start-ups.

Jonathan Rowe, director for UNCW’s Center for Entrepreneurship, said “I think we’ve got a lot of pieces in place that make this such a great spot- a good educational foundation, corporation that bring the intellectual capital and a lot of people who move here for lifestyle that have a lot of skills.”

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http://www.leebryant.com

Classic 1921 Home in Charming Carolina Heights

2009-09-22T13:07:00.000-07:00

Enjoy sitting on the large front porch of this classic farmhouse located in popular Carolina Heights. This beautiful home offers many original details as well as the modern amenities of a new home. New kitchen w/Butlers Pantry, stainless appliances, granite counters, New baths & powder room. Beautiful oak floors throughout. Rear alley access for additional parking.

Search all Wilmington homes at www.findhomesinwilmington.com/

http://www.leebryant.com

Popular Hampstead Community, The Highlands at Castle Bay - Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty Real Estate

2009-09-22T13:05:00.001-07:00

Wonderful Cape Cod home in desirable Timber Creek - Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty Real Estate

2009-09-21T06:54:00.001-07:00

Wonderful Cape Cod home in desirable Timber Creek - Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty Real Estate

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Wilmington area Multiple Listing Service home search - Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty Real Estate

2009-09-21T06:53:00.001-07:00

Wilmington area Multiple Listing Service home search - Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty Real Estate

Instant Email MLS Notification System. Our automated search is the easiest way to find Your Perfect Property! Just click here to get started. This new home search technique emails you the real estate listings that suit your needs. Whenever new MLS listings matching your criteria hit the market, they're flagged and automatically emailed to you .... Easy, Simple, and Efficient!

Wondering What Your Home Is Worth? -- Let me show you.

Considering relocating to the Wilmington area?
Request relocation information

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http://www.leebryant.com

Wilmington NC resort style Community - Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty Real Estate

2009-09-21T06:52:00.003-07:00

Wilmington NC resort style Community - Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty Real Estate

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Wilmington: Coastal Dream town - Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty Real Estate

2009-09-21T06:49:00.001-07:00

Wilmington: Coastal Dream town - Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty Real Estate

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Wilmington, NC ~ One of the healthiest housing markets of 2009

2009-03-13T07:27:00.000-07:00

Wilmington, NC got some great news from Builder, the information source for the home building industry. Although most markets were down last year, some markets way outperformed others. Wilmington, NC was ranked 14th in the country when comes to healthy housing markets.Wilmington,

According to Builder, “Wilmington has the second highest ratio of permits pulled per resident….” Proving again Wilmington, NC is wonderful place to live with access to the Atlantic Ocean, Cape Fear River, Historic Waterfront, The University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and much, much more. Even with all of these wonderful reasons to live here in Wilmington, the median home price was still only $198,700. =

To request information, click here

Real Estate Myths for Buyers and Sellers

2009-01-29T18:27:00.000-08:00

Today’s real estate market can be a confusing sea to navigate without a qualified Realtor to look out for your best interests. The family of Realtors here at Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty are here to help you through the process to the American dream of owning your own home.

Its always important to address certain Real Estate myths for both Home Buyers and Home Sellers. There are several myths that keep fears running rampant on both sides of the market. Barbara Corcoran, a real estate expert for NBC, did a wonderful job covering a few of these myths recently on the Today Show with Matt Lauer.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

10 Real Estate Myths for Buyers and Sellers
Buyer myth No. 1: The longer the house is on the market, the more you can negotiate.When buyers ask, “How long has this property been on the market?”, they think “six months” means they can negotiate the price down. It more often means the seller is stubbornly holding on to their price.

Buyer myth No. 2: The sellers today are desperate.Most aren’t. Always ask why the sellers are selling. It’s the key to finding how motivated and anxious they are. “I’m being transferred to Dallas” is a very different answer than “We’d like to find something bigger.” The first homeowner is hot to trot.

Buyer myth No. 3: You can’t buy a home today with less than 20 percent down.FHA loans require only 3.5 percent down, and you can even ask the seller to pay the closing costs.

Buyer myth No. 4: You need good credit to get a good loan.Once again, the FHA to the rescue! They’re happy to lend money to buyers with bad credit.

Buyer myth No. 5: You shouldn’t buy before prices have bottomed.You can’t sharpshoot the real estate market. Once you identify the “bottom,” prices have already moved up.

Seller myth No. 1: Now’s the absolute worst time to sell.Not necessarily. It depends upon where you live. Many of the worst hit markets, like Las Vegas, Phoenix or San Diego, are already beginning to turn around. And if you’re a homeowner who wants to trade up, the loss you’ll take on your current home will be more than offset by the bargain you’ll get on the next one.

Seller myth No. 2: Never respond to a low-ball bid.All buyers today feel obligated to put in low-ball offers to see if the seller bites. If you respond with a reasonable counter offer, most buyers can be convinced to come up in price and make the deal.

Seller myth No. 3: The first offer is never the best offer.Most sellers believe that it’s smart to hold out for something better. But four times out of five, the first offer is the best you’ll ever see.

Seller myth No. 4: ‘I can always reduce my price later.’Sellers often price their home high for a few weeks just to test the market. But buyers shop by price bracket and if your house is in the wrong one, you’ll just help sell everyone else’s home while yours sits there overpriced. And reducing your price later in small increments puts you in the position of chasing the tide as it goes out.

Seller myth No. 5: Before you refinance, shop around.You can if you want, but you’ll usually get the best deal from your current lender. And you’ll be able to negotiate your closing costs.

Courtesy of Barbara Corcoran, MSNBC

Forbes Lists Hampstead Homes As Highest In Retaining Home Equity Values

2009-01-29T18:21:00.000-08:00

One of the most desirable North Carolina areas is in Hampstead. What a perfect location. In between the waterfront and the Holly Shelter Game Land, you can probably see in your mind’s eye the beautiful coast and equally desirable park landscape. For outdoors people, the Holly Shelter, with almost 50,000 acres promises true wild life, plant life, and endless natural habitats. Also for the outdoors people, the coastal life promises relaxation and a high quality of life. Forbes recently listed Hampstead as No. 20 across the US as retaining the highest levels of home equity. Those are reasons enough to visit Hampstead and look into the real estate opportunities.

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Frequently asked question about selling in a buyer's market

2009-01-29T18:14:00.000-08:00

Q: Should I wait to sell my house until I can get the same price my neighbor sold for?

A: It’s always better to trade up in a buyer’s market, like the one we are in now. While the value of your house has fallen, the price of higher-end homes has also dropped.

Here's an example. Say your neighbor sold his house six months ago for $300,000. In today's market, your home's value may have decreased 10 percent and you could only get $270,000. So you might think you'd be taking a $30,000 "loss" on your home.

But, don’t forget that higher priced homes have also dropped in price.

So, using the same example, the $500,000 move-up home you'd like to buy has also dropped 10 percent in value and now sells at $450,000. If you sold your home today for $270,000 and purchased the larger house for $450,000, the difference in price would be $180,000.

But if you waited to recoup the 10 percent value on your home and sold it at $300,000, chances are that same move-up home would also move up in price to at least 10 percent to $500,000. That’s a $200,000 price difference between the two homes.

So by not waiting, and selling today, you could actually save $20,000. And most likely, by jumping into the market today your savings would be even greater because consumers have much more bargaining power when shopping for higher-end homes in a buyer’s market.

For answers to more home buying questions, please email us or call us at 910-233-8810

Local real estate market points up foreclosure alternatives

2009-01-29T18:06:00.000-08:00

Here’s an astounding fact: Distressed properties accounted for 45 percent of all home resales nationwide in October.
In contrast, foreclosure sales have comprised only a small part of Wilmington’s housing market, according to Susan Lacey, president of the Wilmington Regional Association of Realtors.
Foreclosures are concentrated in areas of the country where so-called exotic mortgages made up a big chunk of the lending, says Walter Molony, senior public affairs specialist for the National Association of Realtors. Loans such as option adjustable-rate mortgages and interest-only mortgages were concentrated in areas such as California and Florida but did not account for a substantial portion of the loans made in North Carolina, local and state banking figures say.
Sales of what are called distressed properties are enough of a factor here, however, that a local real estate agent has become the first in the area certified by the national Realtors group to help clients through the process of distress sales and, especially, via what are called short sales.
In a short sale, a lender agrees that an owner can sell his or her home for less than is owed on it.
It’s an alternative to foreclosure, says Melanie Cameron of Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty, who at the end of October received a National Association of Realtors designation as a distressed-property specialist. She is the first one in Southeastern North Carolina, according to Sea Coast, and one of only eight in the state, Cameron added.
That number is expected to grow.
“What we’re seeing is more inquiries by people about short sales. Many people who want to put their house on the market don’t realize they are in a short-sale situation,” said Tim Milam, president of Coldwell Banker Sea Coast.
People, especially those who bought at the top of the market and put little or nothing down, may have seen any equity they had evaporate as home values have fallen from boom-time levels. They may, in fact, find themselves owing more on the property than they can sell it for.
Distressed properties include foreclosed homes, and there’s a market here for that as well.
Search distressed properties here

100% Financing Is Still Available - USDA Loans

2008-10-26T12:41:00.000-07:00

Highlights:
NO Monthly Mortgage Insurance
NO Down Payments
NO Maximum Amount
30 Year FIXED Interest Rate
Unlmited Gifts Or Seller Contributions
To Qualify, Applicants Must:
Have Adequate & Dependable Income Which Must Not Exceed The Agency’s County Adjusted Income Limits For Moderate Income Families Based On Number In Household
Must Have Credit History Which Indicates A Willingness To Meet Obligations As They Become Due
Homes That Qualify:
New Or Existing Homes
New Manufactured Homes
Modular Homes
My preferred lender, Alpha Mortgage Corporation, has been in business for over 25 years and has a multitude of loan programs and products to suit most any buyer’s needs, even in these uncertain times! Contact Chris Hutchens today to discuss a new home purchase or refinance of a current loan with one of the following products:
100% USDA Loans
100% VA Loans
97% FHA Loans
95% Conventional Loans
80% Jumbo Loans

New community offering - Compass Pointe

2008-10-26T12:36:00.000-07:00

Located off routes 74-76, less than 10 min. from downtown Wilmington, on 2,200 acres of what are described as the highest point in Brunswick Country, North Carolina, Compass Pointe is a huge undertaking that, like Brunswick Forest, Waterford of the Carolinas, and Magnolia Greens will be developed over 10+ years. First phases will include townhomes, patio homes, tropical-style homes, and custom home lots with townhome prices starting in the $150's and home and land prices starting in the $200's.Planned amenities, in addition to a village-style shopping area, will eventually include a 27-hole golf course, a tennis complex, swimming pools, fitness center, canoe and kayak launch, soccer field, many walking trails, a dog park, and an amphitheater. Compass Pointe has aready been named an Audubon International Gold Signature Community and will have at least two Audubon bird sanctuaries. Golf cart lanes on both sides of community roads will encourage alternative transportation use.
Please send me information

The Highlands at Castle Bay

2008-10-08T18:29:00.000-07:00

The serene setting offers scenic vistas, massive wooden arch-trestles and an abundance of wild birds.

The Highlands at Castle Bay is nestled on acres of rolling hills just north of Wilmington, NC, in the cozy city of Hampstead, NC. The Highlands at Castle Bay is a highlight of Hampstead, NC, real estate and provides excellent value, lifestyle, and amenities very close to the urban hub of Southeastern North Carolina, Wilmington, NC.

View youtube video here

Click here to search all Wilmington NC area properties.

Great Loans are STILL Available!

2008-10-08T18:11:00.000-07:00

Alpha Mortgage Corporation has been in business for over 25 years and has a multitude of loan programs and products to suit most any buyer’s needs, even in these uncertain times! Call Alpha today to discuss a new home purchase or refinance of a current loan with one of the following products:

• 100% USDA Loans at 6%
• 97% FHA Loans at 6%
• 95% Conventional Loans at 6%
• 80% Jumbo ARMs at 6%

Above rates are based on a 720 credit score and are subject to change. Quoted as of 10-08-2008.

Pending Home Sales Rise As Buyers Grab Bargains

2008-10-08T18:09:00.000-07:00

Pending sales of existing U.S. homes unexpectedly jumped in August to the highest level in over a year, data from a real estate trade group showed on Wednesday.

The National Association of Realtors Pending Home Sales Index, based on contracts signed in June, rose 7.4 percent in August to 93.4 from an updwardly revised index of 87.0 in July.
The August reading was 8.8 percent higher than a year earlier, and the highest level since 101.4 in June 2007.

Contact Lee

My lender, Chris Hutchens Interview By WWAY TV3 News

2008-10-08T18:06:00.000-07:00

The whole current financial crisis seems to center on housing loans and shrinking credit, and the government’s financing plan will affect all of us in one way or another. But one local housing expert has a surprising analysis.

http://www.wwaytv3.com/video/area_housing_market_in_good_shape/09

Now available - NEW Cape Fear Relocation Guide

2008-10-08T18:04:00.000-07:00

If you're thinking about a move to the Wilmington NC area, This relocation guide is your total resource for relocation information in the Cape Fear Coast, Wilmington, New Hanover Beaches, Hampstead, Topsail Island, North Brunswick County, South Brunswick County and surrounding areas of North Carolina beach areas and NC coast.

The Relocation Guide is written for people relocating to this specific area, the guide also offers comprehensive up-to-date information in the prime relocation season to help new residents settle into their new home as easily and as stress-free as possible. Among the recurring departments are:

Getting to Know Wilmington and surrounding communities
Top Wilmington Neighborhoods
Area School Systems and Childcare
Healthcare
Employment
and many other fascinating facts and figures that are sure to intrigue the newcomer and long-time resident as well.

For your complimentary copy Click Here.

U.S.News & World Report Again Names UNCW a Top 10 Public Master's University in the South

2008-10-08T17:57:00.000-07:00

For the eleventh consecutive year, the University of North Carolina Wilmington ranks as one of the top 10 public master's universities in the South according to U.S.News & World Report. U.S.News also placed UNC Wilmington fifth on its list of "up-and-coming" master's universities in the South.

This year, for the first time, U.S.News asked the top college officials who respond to its annual peer assessment survey to identify schools that fit the profile of an up-and-coming institution. Their survey identified 70 colleges and universities that have recently made "the most promising and innovative changes in academics, faculty, students, campus or facilities." UNC Wilmington was fifth on that list for the South, tied with James Madison University in Virginia and Union University in Tennessee.

In the South, UNCW ranks sixth among public master's universities in the 2009 edition, which is also where the university was ranked in 2008. Among all 121 public and private universities in the South that provide a full range of undergraduate and master's level programs, the overall ranking of UNCW stayed steady at 14th.

In addition, UNC Wilmington placed extremely well in the 2008 Forbes special report on America's Best Colleges. According to Forbes, UNCW ranks second among the public universities in North Carolina, behind only the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. UNCW also was rated second among its peer institutions, with only James Madison University ranking higher. Other universities on UNCW's peer institution list include the College of Charleston, the College of William and Mary, Murray State University, the College of New Jersey, Towson University and California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo.

"It is gratifying to be recognized for our institutional achievements by U.S.News & World Report and Forbes," said Chancellor Rosemary DePaolo. "We have seven strategic goals that drive everything we do at UNCW, and we are making steady progress in every one of those areas, which is reflected in these rankings. It is a tribute to the daily efforts of our faculty and staff to ensure the most powerful academic experience possible for our students."

UNC Wilmington continues to be the first-choice university for a growing number of high-achieving high school students. UNCW's total enrollment for fall 2008 is expected to exceed 12,500 students. The university's freshman class of more than 1,200 students has an average SAT score of 1156 and an average high school grade point average of 3.75.

The complete U.S.News & World Report rankings can be viewed online at www.usnews.com or in the September 1 issue of U.S News & World Report, available for newsstand sale Monday, Aug. 26. The 2009 America's Best Colleges guidebook will be available as of Tuesday, August 27.

Source:Dana Fischetti, manager of news and media relations, 910.962.7259 or fischettid@uncw.edu

Click here For Wilmington relocation information and information on New Home communities.

Milken Ranks Wilmington Tops in Workforce Additions

2008-03-02T13:14:00.000-08:00

A new report concludes these are boom times for the Wilmington area when it comes to job growth.

The non profit Milkin Institute in Los Angeles, ranks Wilmington second in the nation when it comes to additions to the workforce. A 2005 survey by the same group had Wilmington ranked 59th. General Electric and Invista are among the local companies adding new workers.
See the report here

John Hinnant of Wilmington Downtown Inc. Also gives credit to the city's historic charm and the growth of businesses in the downtown area, including PPD. Hinnant says investors and developers are starting to take notice of the city's potential. "They see us on the verge of great growth. We've had a lot of interest from outside developers and investors looking to come to Wilmington and start projects because they know the quality of life is strong here. They know we are a magnet for corporations looking to establish offices in this area, and build their work force," explained Hinnant.

December's Money Magazine also has a pat on the back for Wilmington's economy, stating the housing market here is, to use their word, sizzling.

Search Wilmington Employment listings here.

New HBO series will film in Port City

2008-03-02T12:17:00.000-08:00

'Little Britain' adaptation starts filming this month
By Amy HotzStaff Writeramy.hotz@starnewsonline.com

Craft services will have to stock up on their supply of tea. HBO confirmed Thursday that the "untitled Little Britain" project will open offices at EUE/Screen Gems Studios on Monday.

An American version of the bawdy British sketch comedy series was scheduled to film here last fall. But Matt Lucas, one of the show's writers and stars, told BBC Radio the show was put on hold because of the recent Hollywood writers strike.

Now that the strike is over, six episodes of the series will start production here this month.

The U.S. version will be produced by Simon Fuller, best known for producing American Idol and the U.K.'s Pop Idol. He was not a producer on the U.K. series.

Lucas and his business partner David Walliams will write, produce and star in the American series. The comedy duo earned a cult following in the original version, known for men in women's dresses and eccentric Monty Python-esque humor. What started as a radio show became a TV series in the U.K. that ran from 2003 to 2006.

According to the BBC, the series filming here will also be a sketch show, this time set in contemporary America, that will include new and existing Little Britain characters. Wilmington Regional Film Commissioner Johnny Griffin said the project will probably employ more than 75 people, most of whom will be locals.

The experienced crew base and our film infrastructure is one of many reasons HBO decided to bring the series here, he said.

"They also wanted a generic look to it that could play different parts of the country," Griffin said. Wilmington's varied landscape and architecture has doubled recently for New York in the locally filmed CW series One Tree Hill and for a South American jungle in the Richard Gere feature Nights in Rodanthe.

HBO was already familiar with the area, having shot the feature Idlewild here in 2004 and the Will Ferrell-produced pilot East Bound and Down last year.

It was while making that pilot that HBO expressed interest in bringing Little Britain to the region, Griffin said.

East Bound and Down has received a series commitment from the cable channel as well, and it's possible its episodes will shoot here after Little Britain wraps.

Rolling production of one HBO show into another would allow the company to retain certain crew members and probably save money in the long run.

"That's what our hope is," Griffin said. "It's good for us to know, 'OK, something must have worked for them before.'

"The Little Britain announcement comes just weeks after The CW asked One Tree Hill to create six more episodes for its fifth season. And Wilmington's H2O Entertainment, which produces Whittaker Bay, a teen drama that recently switched from WGN TV to the America One station, announced will begin shooting a feature called Redefining Love April 21.

Encore readers vote Coldwell Banker Sea Coast as Best real estate company

2008-02-19T10:43:00.000-08:00

Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty has become the dominant agency in Southeastern North Carolina, now celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Having opened shop on Wrightsville Beach, as Wilmington Sea Coast Properties, in a tiny office now occupied by a surf shop, Tim Milam, president, remembers his daily duties as a new agent included “putting up the flag outside in the parking lot.”

Milam, along with his wife, Vicki, and business partners Jim Clark and Jim Teachey, bought what became Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty from his brother in 1996 when it had one office and about 30 agents.

Since then, the company has grown to more than 300 agents in seven offices in New Hanover, Pender, Brunswick and Onslow counties.

Sales success has followed; Sea Coast Realty selling more properties in the Southeastern North Carolina market for the past eight straight years than any other company, and also recording the highest dollar volume of sales for the past two straight years, and three of the past five. But as Milam is fond of saying, “The numbers are great, but what’s more important is treating people the right way.” That attitude has created what is known among his sales associates and staff as “the Sea Coast Family.”

“We really do look after each other, and our people are very generous in supporting charities and other worthy causes in the communities we serve,” he said. “It makes me proud every day to work with such a caring, giving, and supportive group of people.”

It’s also nice to be recognized by local publications such as encore, Milam said, “because we know your readers voted for us because they’ve had good experiences with our company, and that means so much to all of us.—Chip Pearsall

Star News Article On Strong Wilmington Market

2008-02-17T13:32:00.000-08:00

Housing market in area stays strong amid crisis

Almost everyone in the U.S. has felt some aspect of the housing and credit crisis - but some have felt it a lot more than others. Homeowners around the Cape Fear region can count themselves lucky, though, because the Wilmington-area housing market has remained relatively strong as sales have plunged across the country and, along with them, prices in some places. Not so here. While median home prices dropped 1.4 percent nationally in 2007, they actually rose here by 3.6 percent, to $211,377, according to data from the Wilmington Regional Association of Realtors.North Carolina in general had the seventh highest appreciation in home prices among the states in the 12 months ended Sept. 30, according to the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, a U.S. agency whose data is considered especially comprehensive and reliable.

Why would the Wilmington area fare so well even as places like Florida, Nevada and California find themselves in a housing tailspin? Many states where prices and sales have suffered the most were either highly speculative resort areas - such as Nevada - or states where the economies have taken a big hit, such as the manufacturing centers of Michigan and Ohio, said Susan Lacy, president of the Wilmington Realtors. “Wilmington is a regional area that offers medical services and shopping, the arts, the university. These are things that are hard to put out of business,” she said. “We have enough diversity in our job market that we should have a lot of economic stabillity in this area.”

Wilmington comes closer to mirroring the national picture in sales, which fell here by 17.6 percent in 2007 while they dropped 12.8 percent nationally. But both numbers follow the go-go days of 2005, and those sales were unsustainable, Lacy and other real estate agents say. While Wilmington-area sales are down 31 percent from 2005 levels, they are up 63.5 percent from 2001. Sales in 2007 were lower than in 2004, but higher than in 2003, Lacy pointed out.
“We’ve gone back to a normal market,” Lacy said, pointing out that average days on the market for homes here rose from 66 in 2006 to 95 days in 2007 - still just five days more than the typical listing agreement. Meanwhile, sellers in 2007 were still getting 97.35 percent, on average, of the list price of their homes, she said. That was down only slightly from 96.59 percent in 2006.

But, if your home is sitting and others are selling, it might have something to do with your price range. “Things are selling in a couple of different price ranges,” Lacy said. “The markets that are $400,000 and less have a quick turnaround,” she said. “The mid-market ($400,000 to $1 million) has a lot of inventory” because “there are not a lot of move-ups because of the media,” Lacy said, referring to news coverage of the real estate markets. “So, it’s a stronger buyers’ market in the $400,000 to $1 million range. “The upper luxury market is not as affected by day-to-day economic isues,” she added.

The Wilmington area figures include new construction homes (the national data do not), and because of rising costs to build and also escalating land prices, newly built homes can cost more than existing ones. “New construction can lift prices, but more typically with existing homes you’re looking at a different buyer profile,” Lacy said. “Typically you’re going to get more home with existing because it is usually at a lesser rate per square foot.”

Understanding the Southeastern North Carolina housing market - or most markets across the country - can be confusing because the data do not follow city or county lines, but rather the areas served by more than one multiple listing service, or MLS.

Board OKs medical complex

2007-01-30T12:52:00.000-08:00

From the Star News

Board OKs medical complex

Development near Pender line could some day include hospital

By Gareth McGrathStaff Writermailto:Writergareth.mcgrath@starnewsonline.com

The New Hanover County Commissioners on Monday unanimously approved plans for a new medical complex, which eventually could include a new hospital, in the northeast portion of the county.But the move wasn't without its critics, with several residents noting the project would add more than 12,000 daily vehicle trips to already congested U.S. 17 and increase potential runoff into some of the county's cleanest waterways.The commissioners, however, said they were confident the developer had done as much as possible to mitigate those concerns.They also said a project that would meet a growing public need was much better than what could potentially go there, since the site eventually would be developed."It could be a whole lot of things less beneficial and with a lot more impacts to the environment," said Commissioner Nancy Pritchett.SENCA Properties, a corporation formed by a group of 105 local doctors, plans to use roughly 50 acres of a 250-acre tract along U.S. 17 near the Pender County line for a New Hanover Regional Medical Center facility and a medical office/retail complex.But residents said the development was too big and too dense for the primarily residential and environmentally sensitive area, which is on the Intracoastal Waterway-side of U.S. 17.Runoff concerns dominated their concerns, with several speakers stating there was little long-term guarantee that the project's stormwater collection system would offer long-term protection to Futch and Foy creeks.The two tidal creeks, areas of which have conservations easements on them, are the cleanest waterways in New Hanover County.But Mike Mallin, a water quality expert with the University of North Carolina Wilmington, has endorsed the series of infiltration systems and wetlands as effectively collecting and treating runoff before it reaches the tidal creeks.Along with stormwater and traffic issues, neighbors also questioned why New Hanover Regional wouldn't build a new medical center on property it already owns less than two miles down Market Street.Beth Steelman, whose family has owned property in the Foy Creek area for two centuries, said the Porters Neck Road area already was a developing medical services, office and retail node.But Jack Barto, chief executive officer of New Hanover Regional, said the Porters Neck parcel was pocketed by wetlands that limited the opportunity to cluster medical offices on any future expansion.He said the hospital would seek to sell that land, and had already received some unsoliticted offers.Barto also said the need for additional medical services was already evident in the fast-growing area, with the hospital probably providing ambulatory services and possibly a standalone emergency room facility before constructing a 60- to 80-bed community hospital in about seven years.Attorney John Wessell also defended the retail component of the project, which several neighbors said wouldn't mesh with the residential character of the area."The idea of retail there is to enhance the ability of people who work there," he said, noting that it wouldn't be a traditional standalone shopping center. "That's all."Due to the site's location in northeastern New Hanover County, the new "Scotts Hill Village" complex would be subject to the moratorium currently in place on Wilmington's troubled Northeast Interceptor sewer line - although the ban on new sewer line connections is expected to be lifted by March 2008.Barto also downplayed any concerns about New Hanover not yet receiving state permission, dubbed a certificate of need, for new hospital beds, stating that the medical center couldn't do so for something it didn't plan to construct for years.Although the five-member board's vote was unanimous, it was 4-0.That's because Commissioner Bobby Greer recused himself, citing his presence on the hospital's Board of Trustees.

North Carolina Holiday Flotilla at Wrightsville Beach

2006-11-22T15:16:00.000-08:00

The 2006 North Carolina Holiday Flotilla will be held Friday November 24th and Saturday November 25th. From our humble beginnings twenty-three years ago, the Flotilla has grown to become one of the Top 20 “Must See Events in the Southeast,” attracting an estimated 50,000 people to Wrightsville Beach.
The Flotilla features a weekend of family friendly events that help raise funding for community projects and support local businesses. It includes our signature event - the parade of illuminated ships glimmering on the Intracoastal and a captivating fireworks display - as well as the Day in the Park festival with children’s games, music and holiday gifts, and the Flotilla party for an elegant evening of dining and dancing. Visit www.ncholidayflotilla.org for the schedule of events.

The Highlands at Castle Bay

2006-10-07T13:51:00.000-07:00

The Highlands at Castle Bay is a unique community built around the area’s only true Scottish-links style golf course. Opened in 1999, The Highlands at Castle Bay offers prestigious low-maintenance brick homes with granite countertops, hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances, and ceramic tile baths, along with lovely views over the golf course and natural areas. The serene setting offers scenic vistas, massive wooden arch-trestles and an abundance of wild birds.
The Highlands at Castle Bay is nestled on acres of rolling hills just north of Wilmington, NC, in the cozy city of Hampstead, NC. The Highlands at Castle Bay is a highlight of Hampstead, NC, real estate and provides excellent value, lifestyle, and amenities very close to the urban hub of Southeastern North Carolina, Wilmington, NC.
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